Acer Aspire TimelineX AS3830TG-6431

Many sleek ultraportable laptops cost well over $1,000, but the 4-pound Acer Aspire TimelineX AS3830TG-6431 delivers a lightweight and sleek design for much less. Reviewers say the Acer laptop is an excellent value -- it's stocked with a second-generation Intel Core i5 processor, 4 GB of RAM, a 500 GB hard drive and Nvidia GeForce GT discrete graphics. It also has a number of features not found on most cheap laptops, including built-in Bluetooth and a new high-speed USB 3.0 port. Six hours of battery life is another plus. Performance is solid across the board, and experts say the Acer Aspire TimelineX AS3830TG-6431 should meet the needs of most users. The one exception would be gamers -- even though the Acer laptop has discrete graphics, it can't play the newest titles or game at high settings without getting overly hot. We also saw a few complaints that the touchpad is too small. If you prefer a big desktop replacement, the Asus K53E-B1 (*Est. $720) is another top pick among budget laptops.

The best reviews of the Acer Aspire TimelineX AS3830TG-6431 come from Laptop Magazine and CNET. Both of these sources put the laptop through an intensive hands-on test, and the accompanying discussion touches on all aspects of performance and usability. We also found a few user reviews at Amazon.com and Newegg.com.